KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - FONTANA

Report ID: 5MRJ11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL FONTANA

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the confidential treatment of protected health information (PHI) for Patient A, when a registered nurse (RN1) gave Patient A's discharge instructions to Patient B. This failure resulted in a breach of Patient A's PHI.Finding:On August 20, 2014 at 2:55 PM, a phone interview was conducted with the Director of Licensing and Accreditation (DLA) regarding an entity reported incident of a breach of PHI for Patient A which was detected on December 19, 2012. The DLA stated, "The nurse is supposed to go over the discharge instructions when given to the patient, she didn't do this. Now, the patients name is highlighted at the time the nurse gives the discharge instructions."During a review of the documentation that had been given to Patient B, the documents included Patient A's discharge instructions which contained Patient A's name, medical record number, allergies, current discharge medications, activity restrictions, diet, return to work order, wound care instructions and discharge destination.A review of the facility policy and procedure titled, "Protected Health Information", dated January 2013, indicated, "The Workforce (medical center staff) are responsible for ensuring that they consistently employ confidentiality practices...They are responsible for following organization policies and procedures regarding confidentiality practices....".The failure of RN1 to ensure the discharge instructions were given to the right patient, Patient A, resulted in the unauthorized release of Patient A's PHI to Patient B.

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: PEHR11.01